Augmented reality viewer with automated surface selection placement and content orientation placement

ABSTRACT

An augmented reality viewer is described. A user orientation determination module determines a user orientation. A content vector calculator calculates a content orientation vector relative to a near edge and a far edge of content, determines a dot product of the user orientation vector and the content orientation vector, and positions the content based on a magnitude of the dot product. A surface area vector calculator calculates a surface area orientation vector for each of a plurality of surface area. A surface selection module determines a dot product of the user orientation vector and each surface area orientation vector and selects a preferred surface based on the relative magnitude of the dot products.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/435,933, filed on Jun. 10, 2019, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/682,788, filed on Jun. 8, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1). Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an augmented reality viewer and to an augmented reality viewing method.

2). Discussion of Related Art

Modern computing and display technologies have facilitated development of “augmented reality” viewers. An augment reality viewer is a wearable device that presents the user with two images, one for the left eye and one for the right eye. Objects in the images for each eye are rendered with slightly different viewpoints that allows the brain to process the objects as three-dimensional objects. When the images constantly change viewpoints as the viewer moves, movement around synthetic three-dimensional content can be simulated.

An augmented reality viewer usually includes technology that allows the presentation of digital or virtual image information as an augmentation to visualization of the actual world around the user. In one implementation, the virtual image information is presented in a static location relative to the augmented reality viewer so that, if the user moves their head, and the augmented reality viewer with their head, the user is presented with an image that remains in a stationary position in front of them while real world objects shift in their view. This gives the user the appearance that the virtual image information is not fixed relative to the real world objects, but instead is fixed in the viewer's point of view. In other implementations, technologies exist to keep the virtual image information in a stationary position relative to the real world objects when the user moves their head. In the latter scenario, the user may be given some control over the initial placement of the virtual image information relative to the real world objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an augmented reality viewer including, a display that permits a user to see real world objects, a data channel to hold content, a user orientation determination module to determine a first user orientation of a user relative to a first display area and to determine a second user orientation of the user relative to the first display area, a projector connected to the data channel to display the content through the display to the user within confines of the first display area while the user views the real world objects and a content orientation selection module connected to the surface extraction module and the user orientation module to display the content in a first content orientation relative to the first display area so that a near edge of the content is close to the user when the user is in the first user orientation, and display the content in a second content orientation relative to the first display area so that the near edge is rotated closer to the user when the user is in the second user orientation and the content is rotated relative to the first display area from the first content orientation to the second content orientation.

The invention further provides an augmented reality viewing method comprising determining, by the processor, a first user orientation of a user relative to a first display area, determining, by the processor, a first content orientation relative to the display when the user is in the first orientation, displaying, by the processor, content in the first content orientation through a display to the user within confines of the first display area while the user views real world objects through the display while in the first user orientation, determining, by the processor, a second user orientation of the user relative to the first display area, determining, by the processor, a second content orientation relative to the display when the user is in the second location and displaying, by the processor, content in the second content orientation through a display to the user within confines of the display area while the user views real world objects through the display from the second location, wherein the content is rotated relative to the first display area from the first content orientation to the second content orientation.

The invention also provides an augmented reality viewer including a display that permits a user to see real world objects, a data channel to hold content, a surface area extraction module to determine a first surface area and a second surface area, a user orientation determination module to determine a first orientation of a user relative to the first surface area and the second surface area, a surface area selection module to select a preferred surface area between the first surface area and the second surface area based on normal to the respective surface area being directed more opposite to the first user orientation of the user and a projector that displays the content through the display to the user within confines of the preferred surface area while the user views the real world objects.

The invention further provides an augmented reality viewing method including determining, by a processor, a first surface area and a second surface area, determining, by the processor, a first orientation of a user relative to the first surface area and the second surface area, selecting, by the processor, a preferred surface area between the first surface area of the second surface area based on normal to the respective surface area being directed more towards the first location of the user and displaying, by the processor, content through a display to the user within confines of the preferred surface area while the user views real world objects through the display from the first location.

The invention also provides an augmented reality viewer including an environmental calculation unit to determine a first vector indicative an orientation of a user, a vector calculator to a calculate a second vector, a selection module to calculate a dot product of the first vector and the second vector, a data channel to hold content, a content rendering module to determine placement of the content based on the dot product, a display that permits the user to see real world objects and a projector that displays the content through the display to the user while the user views the real world objects through the display, the content being displayed based on the placement determined by the content rendering module.

The invention further provides an augmented reality viewing method including determining, by a processor, a first vector indicative an orientation of a user, calculating, by the processor, a second vector, calculating, by the processor, a dot product of the first vector and the second vector, determining, by the processor, placement of content based on the dot product and displaying, by the processor, the content through a display to the user while the user views real world objects through the display, the content being displayed based on the placement determined by the content rendering module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an augmented reality viewer that is used by a user to see real world objects augmented with content from a computer;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the augmented reality viewer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a user wearing the augmented reality viewer in a three-dimensional environment while viewing two-dimensional content;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensional data map that is created with the augmented reality viewer;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the determination of a user orientation vector, the extraction of surface areas and the calculation of surface area orientation vectors;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating placement of a rendering of content on one of the surface areas;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating a change in the user orientation vector;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating placement of a rendering of the content due to the change in the user orientation vector;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a change in the user orientation vector due to movement of the user;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 illustrating rotation of the rendering of the content due to the change in the user orientation vector;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a change in the user orientation vector due to movement of the user;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating rotation of the rendering of the content due to the change in the user orientation vector;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 illustrating a change in the user orientation vector due to movement of the user;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 illustrating rotation of the rendering of the content due to the change in the user orientation vector;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 illustrating a change in the user orientation vector due to the user looking up;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 illustrating the placement of a rendering of the content on another surface area due to the change in the user orientation vector;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating the functioning of an algorithm to carry out the method of the preceding figures;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a user wearing the augmented reality viewer in a three-dimensional environment while viewing three-dimensional content;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 wherein the user has rotated in a clockwise direction around a display surface;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 wherein the content has rotated in a clockwise direction;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a user while viewing content on a vertical surface;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21 wherein the user has rotated in a counter-clockwise direction;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 2 wherein the content has rotated in a counter-clockwise direction; and

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a machine in the form of a computer that can find application in the present invention system, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms “surface” and “surface area” are used herein to describe two-dimensional areas that are suitable for use as display areas. Aspects of the invention may find application when other display areas are used, for example a display area that is a three-dimensional surface area or a display area representing a slice within a three-dimensional volume.

FIG. 1A of the accompanying drawings illustrates an augmented reality viewer 12 that a user uses to see a direct view of a real world scene, including real world surfaces and real world objects 14, that is augmented with content 16 of the kind that is stored on, received by, or otherwise generated by a computer or computer network.

The augmented reality viewer 12 includes a display 18, a data channel 20, a content rendering module 22, a projector 24, a depth sensor 28, a position sensor such as an accelerometer 30, a camera 32, an environmental calculation unit 34, and a content placement and content orientation unit 36.

The data channel 20 may be connected to a storage device that holds the content 16 or may be connected to a service that provides the content 16 in real time. The content 16 may for example be static images such as photographs, images that remain static for a period of time and can be manipulated by a user such as web pages, text documents or other data that is displayed on a computer display, or moving images such as videos or animations. The content 16 may be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, static, dynamic, text, image, video, etc. The content 16 may include games, books, movies, video clips, advertisements, avatars, drawings, applications, web pages, decorations, sports games, replays, 3-D models or any other type of content as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art.

The content rendering module 22 is connected to the data channel 20 to receive the content 16 from the data channel 20. The content rendering module 22 converts the content 16 into a form that is suitable for three-dimensional viewing. Various techniques exist for viewing two-dimensional planes in three-dimensional space depending on the orientation of the user, or viewing three-dimensional volumes in three dimensions by the user.

The projector 24 is connected to the content rendering module 22. The projector 24 converts data generated by the content rendering module 22 into light and delivers the light to the display 18. The light travels from the display 18 to eyes 26 of the user. Various techniques exist for providing the user with a three-dimensional experience. Each eye is provided with a different image and objects in the images are perceived by the user as being constructed in three dimensions. Techniques also exist for the user to focus on the objects at a field of depth that is not necessarily in the plane of the display 18 and is typically at some distance behind the display 18. One way that virtual content can be made to appear to be at a certain depth is by causing light rays to diverge and form a curved wavefront in a way that mimics how light from real physical objects reaches an eye. The eye then focuses the diverging light beams onto the retina by changing shape of the anatomic lens in a process called accommodation. Different divergence angles represent different depths and are created using diffraction gratings on the exit pupil expander on the waveguides.

The display 18 is a transparent display. The display 18 allows the user to see the real world objects 14 through the display 18. The user thus perceives an augmented reality view 40 wherein the real world objects 14 that the user sees in three-dimensions are augmented with a three-dimensional image that is provide to the user from the projector 24 via the display 18.

The depth sensor 28 and the camera 32 are mounted in a position to capture the real world objects 14. The depth sensor 28 typically detects electromagnetic waves in the infrared range and the camera 32 detects electromagnetic waves in the visible light spectrum. As more clearly shown in FIG. 1B, more than one camera 32 may be mounted on a frame 13 of the augmented reality viewer 12 in a world-facing position. In the particular embodiment, four cameras 32 are mounted to the frame 13 with two in a forward world-facing position and two in a left and right side or oblique world-facing position. The fields of view of the multiple cameras 32 may overlap. The depth sensor 28 and the cameras 32 are mounted in a static position relative to a frame 13 of the augmented reality viewer 12. Center points of images that are captured by the depth sensor 28 and the camera 32 are always in the same, forward direction relative to the augmented reality viewer 12.

The accelerometer 30 is mounted in a stationary position to the frame of the augmented reality viewer 12. The accelerometer 30 detects the direction of gravitation force. The accelerometer 30 can be used to determine the orientation of the augmented reality viewer with respect to the Earth's gravitational field. The combination of the depth sensor 28 and a head pose algorithm that relies on visual simultaneous localization and mapping (“SLAM”) and inertial measurement unit (“IMU”) input, accelerometer 30 permits the augmented reality viewer 12 to establish the locations of the real world objects 14 relative to the direction of gravitation force and relative to the augmented reality viewer 12.

The camera 32 captures images of the real world objects 14 and further processing of the images on a continual basis provides data that indicates movement of the augmented reality viewer 12 relative to the real world objects 14. Because the depth sensor 28, world cameras 32, and the accelerometer 30 determine the locations of the real world objects 14 relative to gravitation force on a continual basis, the movement of the augmented reality viewer 12 relative to gravitation force and a mapped real world environment can also be calculated.

In FIG. 1A, the environmental calculation unit 34 includes an environment mapping module 44, a surface extraction module 46 and a viewer orientation determination module 48. The environment mapping module 44 may receive input from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors may include, for example, the depth sensor 28, one or more world camera 32, and the accelerometer 30 to determine the locations of the real world surfaces and objects 14. The surface extraction module 46 is may receive data from the environment mapping module 44 and determines planar surfaces in the environment. The viewer orientation determination module 48 is connected to and receives input from the depth sensor 28, the cameras 32, and the accelerometer 30 to determine a user orientation of the user relative to the real world objects 14 and the surfaces that are identified by the surface extraction module 46.

The content placement and content orientation unit 36 includes a surface vector calculator 50, a surface selection module 52, a content size determination module 54, a content vector calculator 56 and a content orientation selection module 58. The surface vector calculator 50, the surface selection module 52 and content size determination module 54 may be sequentially connected to one another. The surface selection module 52 is connected to and provides input to the viewer orientation determination module 48. The content vector calculator 56 is connected to the data channel 20 so as to be able to receive the content 16. The content orientation selection module 58 connected to and receives input from the content vector calculator 56 and the viewer orientation determination module 48. The content size determination module 54 is connected and provides input to the content orientation selection module 58. The content rendering module 22 is connected and receives input from the content size determination module 54.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user 60 who is wearing the augmented reality viewer 12 within a three-dimensional environment.

A vector 62 signifies a direction of gravitation force as detected by one or more sensors on the augmented reality viewer 12. A vector 64 signifies a direction to the right from a perspective of the user 60. A user orientation vector 66 signifies a user orientation, in the present example a forward direction in the middle of a view of the user 60. The user orientation vector 66 also points in a direction that is to the center points of the images captured by the depth sensor 28 and camera 32 in FIG. 1. FIG. 1B shows a further coordinate system 63 that includes the vector 64 to the right, the user orientation vector 66 and a device upright vector 67 that are orthogonal to one another.

The three-dimensional environment, by way of illustration, includes a table 68 with a horizontal surface 70, surfaces 72 and 74, objects 76 that provide obstructions that may make the surfaces 72 and 74 unsuitable for placement of content. For example, objects 76 that disrupt continuous surfaces 72 and 74 may include picture frames, mirrors, cracks in a wall, rough texture, a different colored area, a hole in the surface, a protrusion of the surface, or any other non-uniformity with respect to the planar surfaces 72, 74. In contrast, the surfaces 78 and 80 may be more suitable for placement of content because of their relatively large size and their proximity to the user 60. Depending on the type of content being displayed, it may also be advantageous to find a surface having rectangular dimensions, although other shapes such as squares, triangles, circles, ovals, or polygons may also be used.

FIG. 3 illustrates the functioning of the depth sensor 28, accelerometer 30 and environment mapping module 44 in FIG. 1. The depth sensor 28 captures the depth of all features, including objects and surfaces in the three-dimensional environment. The environment mapping module 44 receives data, directly or indirectly, from one or more sensors on the augmented reality viewer 12. For example, the depth sensor 28 and the accelerometer 30 may provide input to the environment mapping module 44 for mapping the depth of the three-dimensional environment in three dimensions.

FIG. 3 also illustrates the functioning of the camera 32 and the viewer orientation determination module 48. The camera 32 captures an image of the objects 76 and surfaces 78. The viewer orientation determination module 48 receives an image from the camera 32 and processes the image to determine that an orientation of the augmented reality viewer 12 that is worn by the user 60 is as represented by the user orientation vector 66.

Other methods of mapping a three-dimensional environment may be employed, for example using one or more cameras that are located in a stationary position within a room. However, the integration of the depth sensor 28 and the environment mapping module 44 within the augmented reality viewer 12 provides for a more mobile application.

FIG. 4 illustrates the functioning of the surface extraction module 46 in FIG. 1. The surface extraction module 46 processes the three-dimensional map that is created in FIG. 3 to determine whether there are any surfaces that are suitable for placement and viewing of content, in the present example two-dimensional content. The surface extraction module 46 determines a horizontal surface area 82 and two vertical surface areas 84 and 86. The surface areas 82, 84 and 86 are not real surfaces, but instead electronically represent two-dimensional planar surfaces oriented in a three-dimensional environment. The surface areas 82, 84 and 86, which are data representations, correspond respectively to the real surfaces 70, 78 and 80 in FIG. 2 forming part of the real world objects 14 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cube 88 and a shadow 90 of the cube 88. These elements are used by the author to assist the viewer to track changes in the user orientation vector 66 and movement of the user 60 and the augmented reality viewer 12 in FIG. 2 through the three-dimensional space.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the functioning of the surface vector calculator 50 in FIG. 1. The surface vector calculator 50 calculates a surface area orientation vector for each extracted surface of the mapped three-dimensional environment. For example, the surface vector calculator 50 calculates a surface area orientation vector 92 that is normal to a plane of the surface area 82. Similarly, the surface vector calculator 50 calculates a surface area orientation vector 94 that is normal to the surface area 84 and a surface area orientation vector 94 that is normal to the surface area 86.

Selection of a surface on which to display virtual content is done by a surface selection module 52 that calculates a relationship between the surface and the user. The surface selection module 52 in FIG. 1A calculates a dot product of the user orientation vector 66 and the surface area orientation vector 92. The dot product of unit vectors a and b is represented by the following equation:

a·b=|a| |b|cos θ  [1]

where |a|=1

-   -   |b|=1     -   θ is the angle between unit vectors a and b.

The user orientation vector 66 and the surface area orientation vector 92 are orthogonal to one another, which means their dot product is zero.

The surface selection module 52 also calculates a dot product of the user orientation vector 66 and the surface area orientation vector 94. Because the user orientation vector 66 and the surface area orientation vector 94 are orthogonal their dot product is zero.

The surface selection module 52 also calculates a dot product of the user orientation vector 66 and the surface area orientation vector 96. Because the user orientation vector 66 and the surface area orientation vector 96 are 180° relative to one another, their dot product is −1. Because the dot product that includes the surface area orientation vector 96 is the most negative of the three dot products, the surface selection module 52 determines that the surface area 86 is the preferred surface area between the surface areas 82, 84 and 86 for displaying content. The more negative the dot product is, the more likely it will be that content will be oriented to be directly facing the viewer. Because the surface area 86 is a vertical surface area, the content placement and content orientation unit 36 does not invoke the content orientation selection module 58 in FIG. 1. The dot product is one of many surface characteristics that can be prioritized by the system or by the needs of the virtual content for choosing the best surface. For example, if the surface that has a dot product of −1.0 is tiny and is far away from the user, it may not be preferable over a surface that has a dot product of −0.8 but is large and near to the user. The system may choose a surface that has good contrast ratio properties when placing content, so it will be easier for the user to see. Next, the content size determination module 54 determines an appropriate size of content to display on the surface area 86. The content has an optimal aspect ratio, for example an aspect ratio of 16 on a near edge and 9 on a side edge. The content size determination module 54 uses the ratio of the near edge to the side edge to determine the size and shape of the content, preserving this aspect ratio at all viewing angles so as not to distort content. The content size determination module 54 calculates the optimal height and width of the content with the optimal aspect ratio that will fit with the surface area 86. In the given example, the distance between left and right edges of the surface area 86 determines the size of the content.

FIG. 5 illustrates the functioning of the content rendering module 22 and the projector 24 in FIG. 1. The content rendering module 22 provides the content 16 in its calculated orientation to the projector 24 based on the size determination of the content size determination module 54 and the surface selection module 52. The viewer views the content 16 as a rendering 98 that is placed in three-dimensional space on and coplanar with the surface area 86. The content 16 is not rendered on the surface areas 82 and 84. All other surface characteristics being equal, the surface area 86 provides an optimal area for the rendering 98 when compared to the surface areas 82 and 84, because of the user orientation as represented by the user orientation vector 66. The rendering 98 remains static on the surface area 86 when the user orientation vector changes by a small degree. If the viewer orientation determination module 48 in FIG. 1A senses that the user orientation vector changes by more than a predetermined threshold degree, for example by five degrees, the system automatically proceeds to recalculate all dot-products as described above and, if necessary, reposition and resize the content that is being rendered for display to the user. Alternatively, the system my routinely, e.g. every 15 seconds recalculate all dot-products and place content as described above.

Alternatively, the user may select the area 86 for the content to remain even when they change their orientation.

In FIG. 6, the user 60 changes the inclination of their head. As a result, the user orientation vector 66 rotates in a downward direction 100. A new user orientation is represented by a new user orientation vector 102. The cameras 32 in FIGS. 1A and 1B continually capture images of the real world objects 14. Additional sensors such as the depth sensor 28 and the accelerometer 30 may also continually capture and provide updated information. The viewer orientation determination module 48 processes the images, along with other data captured by sensors on board the augmented reality viewer 12, to determine relative movement of the real world objects 14 within a view of the camera 32. The viewer orientation determination module 48 then processes such movement to determine the change of the user orientation vector from the user orientation vector 66 in FIG. 5 to the user orientation vector 102 in FIG. 6. The system normally selects the surface with the most optimal dot-product, although there may be some tolerance/range allowable for the dot-product so that jitter and processing is reduced. By way of example, the system may move the content when there is another dot-product that is more optimal and if the dot-product that is more optimal is at least 5 percent better than the dot-product of the surface where the content is currently displayed.

Assuming that the user did not select the surface 86 for the content to remain after they change their orientation. the surface selection module 52 again calculates three dot products, namely between the user orientation vector 102 and the surface area orientation vector 92, the user orientation vector 102 and the surface area orientation vector 94, and the user orientation vector 102 and the surface area orientation vector 96. The surface selection module 52 then determines which one of the three dot products is the most negative. In the present example, the dot product between the user orientation vector 102 and the surface area orientation vector 92 is the most negative. The surface selection module 52 determines that the surface area 82 is the preferred surface because its associated dot product is more negative than for the surface areas 84 and 86. The system may also consider other factors as described above.

The content placement and content orientation unit 36 in FIG. 1A invokes the content vector calculator 56 and the content orientation selection module 58. Following operation of the content orientation selection module 58, the content size determination module 54 is again invoked.

The functioning of the content vector calculator 56, content orientation selection module 58 and content size determination module 54 are better illustrated with the assistance of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates that the content rendering module 22 and projector 24 create a rendering 104 of the content 16 within and coplanar with the surface area 82. The rendering on the surface area 86 is no longer displayed to the user 60.

The rendering 104 has a far edge 106, a near edge 108, a right edge 110 and a left edge 112. The content vector calculator 56 in FIG. 1A may calculate a content orientation vector 114. The content orientation vector 114 extends from the near edge 108 to the far edge 106 and is orthogonal to both the near edge 108 and the far edge 106.

The calculations that are made by the content vector calculator depend on the content that is provided on the data channel. Some content my already have a content orientation vector extends from the near edge to the far edge of the content, in which case the content vector calculator 56 simply identifies and isolates the content orientation vector within the code of the content. In other instances, a content orientation vector may be associated with the content and the content vector calculator 56 may have to re-orient the content orientation vector to extend from the near edge to the far edge of the content. In other instances, no the content vector calculator 56 may generate a content orientation vector based on other data such as image analysis, the placement of tools in the content, etc.

The content orientation selection module 58 calculates a dot product between the user orientation vector 102 and the content orientation vector 114. The dot product is calculated for four scenarios, namely when the content orientation vector 114 is oriented in the direction shown in FIG. 7, when the content orientation vector 114 is oriented 90° to the right, when the content orientation vector 114 is oriented 180°, and when the content orientation vector 114 is oriented 90° to the left. The content orientation selection module 58 then selects the dot product that is the lowest among the four dot products and places the rendering 104 so that the content orientation vector 114 is aligned in the direction with the lowest associated dot product. The near edge 108 is then located closer to the user 60 than the far edge 106 and the right and left edges 112 and 110 are located to the right and to the left from the orientation of the user 60 as depicted by the user orientation vector 102. The content 16 is thus oriented in a manner that is easily viewable by the user 60. For example, a photograph of a head and torso of a person is displayed with the head farthest from the user 60 and the torso closest to the user 60, and a text document is displayed with the first lines farthest from the user 60 and the last lines closest to the user 60.

The content size determination module 54 has determined an appropriate size for the rendering 104 with the right edge 110 and the left edge 112 defining the width of the rendering 104 within the surface area 82 and a distance between the far edge 106 and the near edge 108 being determined by the desired aspect ratio.

In FIG. 8, the user 60 has moved in a direction 116 counterclockwise around the surface area 82. The user 60 has also rotated their body counterclockwise by 90°. The user 60 has now established a new orientation as represented by a new user orientation vector 118. The user's head is still inclined downward toward the surface area 82 and the surface areas 84 and 86 are now located behind and to the right of the user 60, respectively.

The surface selection module 52 again calculates a dot product associated with each one of the surface area orientation vectors 92, 94 and 96. The dot product of the user orientation vector 118 and the surface area orientation vector 94 has now become positive. The dot product between the user orientation vector 118 and the surface area orientation vector 96 is approximately zero. The dot product between the user orientation vector 118 and the surface area orientation vector 92 is the most negative. The surface selection module 52 in FIG. 1A selects the surface area 82 associated with the surface area orientation vector 92 as the preferred surface for positioning of a rendering of the content 16.

The content orientation selection module 58 in FIG. 1A again calculates four dot products, each one associated with a respective direction of a content orientation vector, namely a dot product between the user orientation vector 118 and the content orientation vector 114 in the direction shown in FIG. 8, and further dot products respectively between the user orientation vector 118 and content orientation vectors at 90° to the right, 180° and 90° to the left relative to the content orientation vector 114 in FIG. 8. The content orientation selection module 58 determines that the dot product associated with the content orientation vector 114 that is 90° to the left relative to the direction of the content orientation vector 114 shown in FIG. 7 is the most positive of the four dot products.

The content size determination module 54 then determines an appropriate size for the rendering if the content orientation vector 114 is rotated 90° to the left.

FIG. 9 illustrates how the content rendering module 22 creates the rendering 104 based on the user orientation as represented by the user orientation vector 118. The rendering 104 is rotated 90° counterclockwise so that the content orientation vector 114 is directed 90° to the left when compared to FIG. 8. The near edge 108 is now located closest to the user 60. The content size determination module 54 in FIG. 1A has made the rendering 104 smaller than in FIG. 8 due to the available proportions of the surface area 82. Renderings could snap between positions, smoothly rotate, fade in/fade out as selected by the content creator or by user preference.

In FIG. 10, the user 60 has moved further around the surface area 82 in a direction 120 and has established a new user orientation as represented by a new user orientation vector 122. The dot product between the user orientation vector 122 and the surface area orientation vector 96 is now positive. The dot product between the user orientation vector 122 and the surface area orientation vector 94 is approximately zero. The dot product between the user orientation vector 122 and the surface area orientation vector 92 is the most negative. The surface area 82 is thus the preferred surface for displaying content.

The dot product between the user orientation vector 122 and the content orientation vector 114 as shown in FIG. 10 is approximately zero. If the content orientation vector 114 is rotated 90° clockwise, 180° and 90° counterclockwise, the respective dot products differ in magnitude with the dot product of the content orientation vector 114 that is 90° to the left being the most positive. The rendering 104 should thus be rotated 90° counterclockwise and be resized based on the proportions of the surface area 82. FIG. 11 illustrates how the rendering 104 is rotated and resized due to the change in the user orientation vector 122 while remaining on the surface area 82.

In FIG. 12, the user 60 has moved in a direction 124 around the surface area 82 and has established a new user orientation as represented by a new user orientation vector 126. A dot product of the user orientation vector 126 and the surface area orientation vector 94 is now negative. However, a dot product between the user orientation vector 126 and the surface area orientation vector 92 is more negative. The surface area 82 is thus the preferred surface area for creating a rendering of the content 16.

A dot product between the user orientation vector 126 and the content orientation vector 114 as shown in FIG. 12 is approximately zero. A dot product between the user orientation vector 126 and the content orientation vector 114, if it is rotated 90° to the left, is positive. The rendering 104 should thus be rotated counterclockwise while remaining on the surface area 82. FIG. 13 illustrates the placement, orientation and size of the rendering 104 as modified based on the new user orientation vector 126.

FIG. 14 illustrates a new user orientation vector 132 that is established when the user 60 rotates their head in an upward direction 134. A dot product between the user orientation vector 132 and the surface area orientation vector 92 is approximately zero. A dot product between the user orientation vector 132 and the surface area orientation vector 96 is also approximately zero. A dot product between the user orientation vector 132 and the surface area orientation vector 94 is, or approaches −1 and is thus the most negative of the three surface-based dot products. The surface area 84 is now the preferred surface area for placement of a rendering of the content 16. FIG. 15 illustrates a rendering 136 that is displayed to the user 60 on the surface area 84. The rendering on the surface area 82 is no longer displayed to the user 60. On vertical surface areas such as the surface area 84 and the surface area 86, the near edge 108 is always at the bottom.

FIG. 16 illustrates the algorithm for carrying out the method as described above. At 150, the three-dimensional space is mapped as described with reference to FIG. 3. At 152A, B and C, the surface areas are extracted as described with reference to FIG. 4. At 154A, B and C, the surface vectors are calculated as described with reference to FIG. 4. At 156, a user orientation vector is determined as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. At 158A, B and C, a respective dot product is calculated between the user orientation vector and each respective surface area orientation vector, as described with reference to FIG. 4. At 160, a preferred surface area is determined as described with reference to FIG. 4.

At 162, a determination is made whether the preferred surface area is vertical. If the preferred surface area is not vertical then, at 164, a direction of a content orientation vector relative far, near, right and left edges of the content is determined as described with reference to FIG. 7. Following 164, at 166A, B, C and D, content vectors are calculated at 0°, 90° right, 180° and 90° left as described with reference to FIG. 7. At 168A, B, C and D, a dot product is calculated between the user orientation vector and the content orientation vectors calculated at 166A, B, C and D, respectively. At 170, a content orientation is selected as described with reference to FIG. 7.

At 172, the size of the content is determined as described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7. At 174, the content is displayed as described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7.

Following 174, a new user orientation vector may be determined at 156 as described with reference to FIGS. 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12. The process may then be repeated without again calculating the surface area orientation vectors at 154A, B and C.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, an embodiment is shown in perspective view and in top view, respectively, with three-dimensional virtual content 180 rendered on a mapped surface 182 within an environment 184 for viewing by a user 60. In such an embodiment, the principles described above are used to position the three-dimensional virtual content 180 that the user 60 can view the content as easily and naturally as possible.

The user orientation vector 66 is the same as a forward vector of the device 12 and is henceforth referred to as the “device forward vector 66”. Determining a surface on which to place three-dimensional virtual content 180 may rely, at least in part, on a dot product relationship between a device forward vector 66 and a surface normal vector 186 of mapped surfaces in the environment 184. For optimal viewing of the three-dimensional virtual content 180, one of many dot product relationships may be considered optimal depending on the content. For example, if the content is meant to be viewed from the side, it may be ideal for the dot product relationship between the device forward vector 66 and the surface normal vector 186 to be close to zero indicating that the user is nearly orthogonal to the mapped surface 182. In such an embodiment, the three-dimensional virtual content 180 placed on the mapped surface 182 will be seen by the user from the side. Alternatively, a dot product relationship at or near −1 may be more desirable if the three-dimensional virtual content 180 is meant to be viewed from above, as has been described herein with respect to other embodiments. The ideal dot product relationship may be an attribute set by the creator of the three-dimensional virtual content 180, may be selected as a preference by the user, or may be otherwise determined by the augmented reality viewing system based on the type of content to be displayed.

Once a placement surface is determined, either by the system or by placement by a user, orientation of the three-dimensional virtual content 180 on the mapped surface 182 is determined with respect to the user. In the example shown, three-dimensional virtual content 180 is provided with a content orientation vector 188 that may be used to align the three-dimensional virtual content 180 to a reference vector of the user device. The three-dimensional virtual content 180 is the head of a character with a near edge of the character being where its mouth is. A far edge of the character will typically not be rendered for viewing by the user 60 because the far edge is on a side of the character that the user cannot see. The content orientation vector 188 is aligned parallel with the near edge of the character. The content orientation vector 188 may be used to align the three-dimensional virtual content 180 with the augmented reality viewer 12 such that the dot product between the content orientation vector 188 and the device right vector 64 is at or near 1, indicating that the two vectors are pointing in substantially the same direction.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, examples of three-dimensional content re-orientation based on a user's movement are shown. In FIG. 19, the user 60 has moved clockwise around the table by a certain distance and angle with respect to FIG. 18. As a result, the dot product relationship between the content orientation vector 188 and the device right vector 64 is less than 1. In some embodiments, this change in position may not require re-orientation of three-dimensional virtual content 180. For example, a content creator, a user, or software within the augmented reality viewer 12 may indicate that re-orientation of three-dimensional virtual content 180 is necessary only when the dot product between the content orientation vector 188 and a device reference vector is less than a predetermined threshold. Large or small threshold tolerances may be set depending on the type of content being displayed.

If the change in position of the user 60 from the location of FIG. 18 to the location of FIG. 19 triggers a re-orientation of three-dimensional virtual content 180, the orientation module may re-render three-dimensional virtual content 180 such that the content orientation vector 188 aligns with the device right vector 64 to result in a dot product equal to or near 1 for the two vectors, as shown in FIG. 20. As discussed above, re-orientation of three-dimensional virtual content 180 may also allow for re-sizing of the content; however, content may also remain the same size such that it appears only to re-orient about an axis normal to the mapped surface 182 as the user moves within the environment.

Referring to FIGS. 21, 22 and 23, an example is shown of virtual content 196 re-orientation on a vertical surface 198. In FIG. 21, a user 60 is shown viewing virtual content 196 on a vertical surface 198 that is oriented vertically in the environment. The virtual content 196 may have at least one of a content right orientation vector 200 and a content upright orientation vector 202 which may be used to measure alignment with respect to the device right vector 64 and the device upright vector 67, respectively. In FIG. 21, the alignment between one of the content orientation vectors (200, 202) and the corresponding device orientation vectors (64, 67) results in a dot product value of approximately 1. As discussed above, dot product values closer to 1 indicate more similar alignment between the two vectors being compared.

If the user 60 were to change positions, for example by lying down on a couch as shown in FIG. 22, without re-orientation of the virtual content 196, the alignment between content orientation vectors (200, 202) and corresponding device orientation vectors (64, 67) may be near zero, indicating a less optimal alignment between the user 60 and the virtual content 196 than the alignment shown in FIG. 21. If a dot product relationship of zero is less than the required dot product relationship for the virtual content-to-user relative orientation, virtual content 196 may be re-rendered at a new orientation, as shown in FIG. 23, such that the dot product relationships are within the predetermined thresholds. In some embodiments, re-rendering the virtual content 196 at a new orientation may re-establish optimal dot product relationships between content orientation vectors (200, 202) and corresponding device orientation vectors (64, 67).

FIG. 24 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a computer system 900 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The exemplary computer system 900 includes a processor 902 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a main memory 904 (e.g., read only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 906 (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which communicate with each other via a bus 908.

The computer system 900 may further include a disk drive unit 916, and a network interface device 920.

The disk drive unit 916 includes a machine-readable medium 922 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions 924 (e.g., software) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 904 and/or within the processor 902 during execution thereof by the computer system 900, the main memory 904 and the processor 902 also constituting machine-readable media.

The software may further be transmitted or received over a network 928 via the network interface device 920.

While the machine-readable medium 924 is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention, and that this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 

What is claimed:
 1. An augmented reality viewer comprising: a display that permits a user to see real world objects; a data channel to hold content; a surface area extraction module to determine a first surface area and a second surface area; a user orientation determination module to determine a first user orientation vector indicative of a first orientation of a user relative to the first surface area and the second surface area; a surface area selection module to select a preferred surface area between the first surface area of the second surface area based on normal to the respective surface area being directed more opposite to the first user orientation of the user, including a surface area vector calculator to a calculate a first surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the first surface area and a second surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the second surface area, wherein the surface area selection module determines a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector and selects the preferred surface area based on a relative magnitude of the dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and the dot product of first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector; and a projector that displays the content through the display to the user within confines of the preferred surface area while the user views the real world objects.
 2. The augmented reality viewer of claim 1, wherein the first surface area orientation vector is normal to the first surface area and the second surface area orientation vector is normal to the second surface area and the preferred surface area is selected based on the dot product that is the most negative in magnitude.
 3. The augmented reality viewer of claim 1, wherein the user position and user orientation determination module determines a second user orientation vector indicative a second orientation of the user and the surface area selection module determines a dot product of the second user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and a dot product of the second user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector and selects the preferred surface area based on a relative magnitude of the dot product of the second user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and the dot product of the second user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector.
 4. The augmented reality viewer of claim 3, wherein the user remains in the same position relative to the first surface area and the second surface area when the first user orientation changes to the second user orientation.
 5. The augmented reality viewer of claim 3, wherein the user moves from a first position to a second position relative to the first surface area and the second surface area when the first user orientation changes to the second user orientation.
 6. The augmented reality viewer of claim 3, wherein the preferred surface area remains the same when the user orientation vector changes from the first user orientation vector to the second user orientation vector.
 7. The augmented reality viewer of claim 3, wherein the preferred surface changes from the first surface to the second surface when the user orientation vector changes from the first user orientation vector to the second user orientation vector.
 8. The augmented reality viewer of claim 3, further comprising: a size determination module that resizes the content in the preferred surface to fit the second surface area.
 9. The augmented reality viewer of claim 8, wherein the content has the same aspect ratio in the first surface area and in the second surface area.
 10. An augmented reality viewing method comprising: determining, by a processor, a first surface area and a second surface area; determining, by the processor, a first user orientation vector indicative of a first orientation of a user relative to the first surface area and the second surface area; selecting, by the processor, a preferred surface area between the first surface area of the second surface area based on normal to the respective surface area being directed more towards the first location of the user, including calculating a first surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the first surface area and a second surface area orientation vector indicative of an orientation of the second surface area, determining a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and a dot product of the first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector, and selecting the preferred surface area based on a relative magnitude of the dot product of the first user orientation vector and the first surface area orientation vector and the dot product of first user orientation vector and the second surface area orientation vector; and displaying, by the processor, content through a display to the user within confines of the preferred surface area while the user views real world objects through the display from the first location. 